yamreads 's review for:

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I'm gonna be so fr. At one point, I was thinking abt now many stars I'd rate this bc I did not like how the story was going, but it got better and now I eagerly await the next installment. 

Story opens with Emory Ainsleif washing up on a beach, thinking about Romie and hoping she's alive. (It's complicated.) She returns to Aldryn College to search for answers - what was Romie hiding, why were & students at Dovermere, etc etc. Story alternates between Basil Brysden and Emory's POV. Baz is dealing with issues of hisown, which is only exacerbated by his Eclipse powers (smth that stigmatizes all Eclipse -born, esp bc of "Collapsing" which Baz later realizes is what is necessary so that Eclipse-born can control their power). Emory discovers the Selenite Order (secret society made of the best of the best), becomes very close to Kieran Thornsby, leader of cohort (dude was giving Darkling and Emory Alina, imma be so fr). Anyhoo, ofc the guy betrays Emory! He's the Darkling archetype LMAOOO. Story pauses with Emory in another world w/ Romie, they follow the song of the Drowned Gods. 

Okay, so my thoughts: I did not like Emory in the start. I thought that she was being awful and toying with Baz's feelings and having one foot in two ships. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, though, so kudos to lacelle for that! I liked Emory's growth, too... lwk this book may be a 5-star read... the idea of a magic system based on the moon is so smart... I liked the casual representation too :3